Hello! It’s another Monday, and that means it’s time to give you some good recommendations for what to spend your time on this week. This week’s theme will be ‘performances’ – specifically games, anime, and books that either feature on-stage performances or that are about performers of some variety.

Final Fantasy 6 (Game)

Final Fantasy 6 features one of the most legendary and iconic ‘performances’ in video game history. The Dream Oath Opera, performed during the World of Balance, is one of the most memorable scenes in any video game I’ve ever played. Despite awkward translation and a strange attempt at midi-vocals, it still had a huge impact on me as a kid. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the best Final Fantasy games – and one of the best RPGs as well.

Nisekoi (Anime)

You might expect me to recommend HaNaYaMaTa here, but since I’ve been talking about it so much lately I thought I’d give it a break and recommend another really good anime with an absolutely hilarious stage performance. Nisekoi’s final episodes lead up to a performance of Romeo and Juliet that… doesn’t quite go right. It’s hilarious, exciting and extremely weird – exactly what you might expect out of Nisekoi. It’s also surprisingly touching despite the absurdity.

Persona 4: The Golden (Game)

One of the highlight moments of Persona 4: The Golden was a concert performed by Rise to help out Yosuke. The concert is presented in full cinematic glory and features a song sung by Rise’s voice actress Laura Bailey. It’s one of my favourite video game songs of all time – it’s just too bad that they never released the English version on any of the soundtracks, ’cause this is one of the few cases where the English version of a Japanese song surpasses the original. Of course, P4G is another of the best JRPGs I’ve ever played so it’s worth your time anyways. But that cinematic was gorgeous and an awesome little break from the action.

Spellsong Cycle (Books)

L.E. Modesitt’s Spellsong Cycle takes place in an alternate world – Erde – that exists parallel to Earth separated by magical barrier of mist that burns anything that attempts to cross. Anna Marshall is a professional singer from Earth who has been summoned to Erde, and has miraculously arrived unscathed. Upon arrival, she finds out music is power on Erde and that, because of her training she is feared.

It’s a well written story with an amazing main character… and the focus on music is so unique and fascinating that I simply had to include this story here – since Anna went from one stage to another, much broader stage and continued to perform. It’s a great read, and it’s particularly applicable here.

Have a good week everyone, hope these recommendations help you pass your time!